Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Running Backs Dominate Early Rounds
A three-round PPR mock draft shows running backs like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson as top picks. The article advises prioritizing high-volume running backs early due to a steep drop-off after the second tier. It also provides a cheat sheet for early draft selections.
The mock draft’s first two rounds reveal a clear positional scarcity at running back, with eight RBs taken among the top 24 picks. Managers are prioritizing workhorse backs like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson, while wide receivers such as Drake London and Chris Olave slide into the second tier. The article flags injury concerns for Christian McCaffrey (30 years old, 413 touches in 2025) and Kenneth Walker III’s move to Kansas City as reasons to adjust rankings. A printable cheat sheet from Jake Ciely is recommended for draft-day reference, and the piece urges readers to run their own practice mocks before live drafts.
This draft guidance could shape how casual and competitive fantasy players allocate early picks, potentially reinforcing a league-wide trend of hoarding running backs. That behavior may drive down receiver values and create uneven rosters, especially for managers who miss the top RB tier. The analysis also highlights how player age and team changes—like McCaffrey’s workload or Walker’s new offense—can influence risk perception, affecting draft-day decisions and, ultimately, league competitiveness and engagement throughout the NFL season.